Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Broncos chief Dave Donaghy has not given up hope of one day luring Payne Haas back to Brisbane, as the champion enforcer prepares to play his final game for the club.
Haas sent shockwaves through the NRL when he announced in February he would leave Red Hill to link up with Wayne Bennett at the South Sydney Rabbitohs on a three-year deal from 2027.
Since then, murmurs of player unrest and suggestions coach Michael Maguire had lost the dressing room have spread, with the premiers’ freefall to 15th this season triggering a review.
Donaghy was asked on Monday if it was a concern the Broncos’ best player was departing.
He dismissed the notion before stressing the door was always open for Haas to return to the jersey in which he became rugby league’s best prop.
“For us, the door’s always open for Payne. He’s been a wonderful servant for this football club for a long period of time,” Donaghy said.
“He’s wanted a change for a number of different reasons – I won’t step outside our conversations, if Payne wants to share, then I’m most happy for him to do so – but his legacy is evident in his contribution to our club.
“From where I sit, I don’t have any concerns. I’ve spoken with Payne, I’ve spoken with his management, and we’re really clear that Payne’s not leaving here because he doesn’t enjoy the program or the club.
“Hopefully one day we might see him back in Broncos colours.”
Earlier in the year, Haas said his decision was personal and family driven, but on Monday he refused to weigh in any further regarding his motives to join the Rabbitohs.
“I think I’ve answered this lots of times, I’m not going to say it again,” he said, when asked why he was leaving.
Asked whether he may return, Hass replied: “I can’t tell the future”.
“This club’s a very special club, and we get looked after, but I think more the connection with the boys and the way we get along from one to all the development and train-and-trial boys, everyone is united and is something I’m going to really miss.”
Brisbane’s shambolic 2026 campaign – winning just twice since round eight and conceding 30 points or more on 12 occasions – proved the catalyst for a performance review into the club’s operation to be launched ahead of their last game of the season, against the Bulldogs on Thursday night.
They found themselves in the headlines again last week for the nature in which skipper Adam Reynolds was farewelled.
Reynolds had initially hinted he was fit from a calf issue, only to then hold a press conference to assure the public it was his decision to withdraw from selection and there were no ill-feelings between him and Maguire. Images of marquee fullback Reece Walsh “liking” a social media post condemning Reynolds’ treatment also caught attention.
The veteran halfback’s swan song at Suncorp Stadium against the Storm on Thursday attracted criticism when a sponsorship advertisement played on the big screen rather than tributes.
“There were some things we can reflect on and what we can do differently, learn from and apply in the future, and certainly, we’ve had those discussions internally,” Donaghy said, while stressing a power failure at the stadium was behind the “missed opportunity”.
“Some of the communication and language could have been much clearer. It was an unfortunate set of circumstances on Thursday night – we would have loved nothing more than to honour and celebrate someone who is really important to our football club and has been a great contributor to the game.”
Donaghy did not reveal any initial recommendations from the review and would not discuss whether Maguire would have his contract extended beyond 2027, although he suggested he would “love Madge to be our long-term coach”.
“It’s certainly been a challenging year on many different fronts. There have been some things in our control, and things outside our control, and we want to make sure we’re worrying about the things in our control,” he said.
“We want to make sure we have a thorough review, we look at everything in terms of the areas where we can improve, and be really clear on the actions we are going to take to help set us up for sustainable success.
“We’ve fallen short on our standards and on our targets. As CEO I accept responsibility for my share of that, but all of us are going to be actively contributing to the plan to get us back to where we want to be.”
Broncos interim captain Pat Carrigan added: “We’re not playing finals this year, so that’s something you’ll sit on and ponder on – it’ll be there for the whole preseason leading into next year.
“It’s been a disappointing year, and by none other than our own expectations and standards. It takes individuals like myself to sit back and review your own performances, and then as a club to review the greater wider things.”
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